Sticks  Dec 6, 2024
Trying to start the process of getting HRT and blockers.. so far it's been so hectic

Can't find any places in my area that seem to do it, I've found three different documents in my insurance with conflicting coverage rules, and it's all just so confusing 😭

arghhhhhhhh I just want to cry :(
Show threadSticks  
If anyone is based in Iowa and can help, please reach out to me directly. I could use it as this point
Dec 6, 2024 at 2:54amWeb
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks my best suggestion is Planned Parenthood, as they say they offer informed consent model in Iowa for 18+.

The insurance coverage is likely the issue though, huh?
Show threadSticks  Dec 6, 2024
@raeve Yeah. Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The nearest center is 74 mi away according to google maps, though there is a telehealth center for all of iowa available. Don't know how that is going to go though.
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks Generally just your first visit needs to be in-person and you can do labs at a third party closer by, like I did with a labcorp just a few miles away while my clinic was roughly as far as yours.

Hell, try telehealth from the start if you can find a local lab to go for bloodwork ahead of time.
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks My route started on 2x 100ug/d patches which put me in monotherapy range so I never took an AA and the metabolic labs were completely unnecessary.

Can at least confer with them in telehealth inside of like two weeks usually.
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks Likely pertinent to call and ask if they require it be in person. They'll expect baseline metabolic labs if you're going on spiro though.
Show threadSticks  Dec 6, 2024
@raeve Sprio? Sorry, still new to this. I'll call tomorrow and see if they take my insurance
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks Spironolactone is a potassium sparing diuretic that happens to have anti-androgen effects, not necessarily directly reducing testosterone, but reducing its effects. It's the main antiandrogen (AA) prescribed in the US.

AAs are generally required with oral estradiol to keep T down between doses, especially such as when sleeping. Oral E is fine, but spiro has some rough side effects and requires frequent bloodwork to make sure your potassium levels don't rise.

Other administrations (patches, injections) can keep estradiol levels high and consistent enough to engage the SHBG feedback loop to cause the body to just produce less testosterone instead, but they expect to do the oral route most of the time unless one can self-advocate like I did.
Show threadSticks  Dec 6, 2024
@raeve Oh I see! Thanks so much for the info, will defo note this down.

Offtopic: do you have a discord? I feel like you'd make a great contact to ask stuff about :3
Show threadRaeve  Dec 6, 2024
@sticks same name
Show threadHazelnootDec 6, 2024
@sticks I believe that QMed is available in Iowa as a tele-health option: https://queermed.com/
QMed/QueerMed

QMed/QueerMed
Show threadSticks  Dec 6, 2024
@hazelnoot You are correct. I will add them to my list of providers to reach out to. Thank you!
Show threadHazelnootDec 6, 2024
@sticks no problem! Feel free to reach out in DMs if you have further questions ​​